Fish egg incubator tray cartridge latching system



May 2, 1961 J. A. KIDDER 2,982,246

FISH EGG INCUBATOR TRAY CARTRIDGE LATCHING SYSTEM Filed March 11, 1960 I2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. r/OI/N A A7006? BY zk gwa 71m May 2, 1961 J.A. KIDDER 2,982,246

FISH EGG INCUBATOR TRAY CARTRIDGE LATCHING SYSTEM Filed March 11, 1960 2Sheets-Sheet 2 lug D INVENTOR.

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2 @JLw/ZW A rive/V524 United States. Patent i FISH EGG INCUBATOR TRAYCARTRIDGE LATCHING SYSTEM John A. Kidder, Kent, Wash., asslgnor to HeathAircraft, Inc., Kent, Wash., a corporation of Washington Filed Mar. 11,1960, Ser- No. 14,228

8 Claims. (Cl. 119-3) This invention relates to improvements in fish eggincubator devices of the tray type which include a removable egg holdercartridge. While the invention is herein illustratively described byreference to the presently preferred formthere'of, it will be recognizedthat certain modifications and changes therein with respect to' detailsmay be made without departing from the essential features involved.

Certain features of construction and operation of the illustrativeincubator of the present case are disclosed and claimed in the companionapplication Serial No. 14,259, filed March 11, 1960, of Clarence F.Brittain and Marvin E. Jones, entitled Fish Egg Incubator.

The existing technique of incubating in holder trays stacked one aboveanother has proved to be a convenient and successful technique which isparticularly appealing because of the minimal floor space required andthe versatility of arrangement which it'makes possible in a hatcherybuilding. Fresh water continuously supplied to the top tray in the stackcascades successively down through the trays in a continuous flow whichkeeps the batches of eggs immersed in water which is intended tocirculate uniformly through them. The invention disclosed in saidco-pending application was in part directed to an improvedwater-channeling holder tray construction capable of safely holding moreeggs and fry than previous trays of equivalent size or bulk and ofeliminating the substantial losses encountered in previous trays.Moreover, with the improved water channelling system water spillage wasavoided despite how rate variations and despite removal ofintermediately situated trays in a' stack or column. holder cartridgenormally retained in a holding chamber in the tray was also an importantfeature of the improvements disclosed in said application.

"An object'of the present invention is to provide an improved andinexpensive means for securely latching the holder cartridge-to thetray, and a similar improved means for latching the holder cartridgecover to the cartridge.

Simplicity of'construction, ease of operation, and a durable, reliablelatching means for the holder cartridge and its cover compriseadditional objects. I

A related object is such a latching arrangement which will beparticularly suited for use in an incubator structure of moldedfiber-reinforced plastic construction.

Still another object is an arrangement wherein the latching elements aresituated'in a conveniently accessi ble location, yet where they will notinterfere with nor become accidentally disengaged during normal handlingof'the tray.

Convenient removability of the cartridge cover without moving thecartridge and convenient removability of'the entire cartridge withoutdisturbing the secured position of the cover thereon'constituteadditional speeific objectives.

" In accordance'with this invention one or more abutments on one end ofthe tray structure project into the A readily removable buoyant eggleading, disengages the abutments.

abutmentsare interengageable and disengageable by end-v wise approachand withdrawal movement of the holder cartridge in relation to said oneend of the tray structure. A resiliently deflectable first latch elementmounted on the opposite end of the tray structure normally overlaps andlatchingly engages the holder cartridge at its opposite end to securethe same in the holding chamber. Manual deflection of the first latchelement permits direct lifting of the adjacent end of the cartridgeclear of the holding chamber walls, and thereupon permits endwisewithdrawal of the opposite end of the holder cartridge from the oppositeend of the tray structure in order to effect disengagement of saidabutments for completion of the unlatching operation.

Similar complemental abutments are carried respectively by a holdercartridge body member and cover frame member at one end, and arenormally interengaged to prevent direct lifting of the cover at thatend. At the opposite end of such cartridge a resiliently deflectablesecond latch element carried by one of the latter mem-v bers normallyengages the other member to fasten such In order to remove the cover,the second latch element is manually deflected, and that end of thecover raised from its seated position, whereupon endwise Withdrawal ofthe cover, with the upraised end A reverse procedure is followed to'reapply and latch the cover in place.

These latching and unlatching operations and related cartridge and coverrelative movements are quickly and easily effected and in each caserequirebut one moving part .for each latch means.

These and other features, objects and advantages of the invention willbecome more fully evident from the following description thereof byreference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is an exploded isometric view showing the incubator with theholder cartridge removed from the tray and with the holder cartridgecover removed from.

the holder cartridge.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top view of the front end of the incubator.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the assem bled incubatortaken on line 4-4 in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 with the holder cartridge beingremoved from the tray.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 with only the holder cartridgecover being removed.

Referring to the drawings, the incubator generally comprises the tray 10and the associated holder cartridge 12 having a removable cover 14.Preferably the tray components are largely of molded glass fiber andplastic construction.

The tray 16 is preferably of rectangular proportions somewhat longerthan wide, and of a relatively shallow depth in relation to its lengthand width dimensions. At one end, which may be considered its rear end,the tray has a water reception pocket or well 15 which extends acrossthe major width of the tray and for a small fraction of its length. Oneside of this well is formed by the trays end wall 16 whereas thetransversely spaced opposite ends of the well are formed by shortinwardly sloping walls 19 and 20 which lie transverse to the wall 16,hence extend longitudinally of the tray. The side of the well oppositethe end wall 16 opens into the general of which are formed by thebarrier walls 24 and 26 and Patented May 2, 1961 the bottom of which isformed by the tray bottom '28. The end of the holder compartment 22opposite the reception well 15 is formed by a weir wall 30 of a lesserheight than the barrier side Walls 24 and 26, and is of a substantiallyuniform height along its full length. This weir wall 30 is interruptedintermediate the sides of the tray and is connected to the adjacent endwall of the tray by transversely spaced dividers 32 and 34 which extenddownwardly to or preferably below the level of the tray bottom and arejoined by a depressed extension 36 of the tray bottom in order to form aclean-out pocket 33 which opens into the holding chamber 22 and has anapertured end wall designed to receive a drain plug 40. This drain plugcarries a longitudinally extending rod .42, across the projecting end ofwhich is secured a scraper By drawing this scraper from its initialposition adjacent the well 15 toward the drain plug end of the tray,accumulated sediment is drawn to the clean-out pocket, from which it isdischarged through the drain plug opening.

At opposite sides of the holder compartment 22, supporting ledges 46extend along the intersections of the tray bottom 28 and barrier sidewalls 24 and 26, respectively. These ledges extend the length of thecompartment 22 and serve as elevating supports for opposite sides of theholder cartridge 12. A water distribution space is thus formed betweenthe bottom of the holder cartridge 12 and the tray bottom 28. Waterenters this space from the reception pocket 15 and Wells up through theholder cartridge in a uniform manner over substantially the entire areaof the latter.

' Water discharging over the end weir 30 is collected in the transversechannel spaces 48 and 50 which are formed between the trays end wall 52and the respectively adjacent portions or sections of weir wall 30 setoff by the dividers 32 and 34. Such water is then conducted back towardthe rear end of the tray through side channels 54 and 56 defined betweenthe outer side walls 58 of the tray and the outer sides of therespectively adjacent barrier walls 24 and 26. At the rear end of thetray the channels 58 turn approximately at right angles inwardly towardeach other and terminate in transversely directed spill openings 60located between the water reception chamber end walls 19 and 120 and therespectively adjacent sides of the tray.

The relative dimensions of the interior of the tray (i.e., the holdercompartment 22) and the exterior of the holder cartridge 12 are suchthat the sides of the latter seat on the supporting elevated ledges 46,with the ends of the holder cartridge lodged between the weir 30 and theshort transversely extending sections of end wall 94 and 96 whichinterconnect the respectively opposite barrier walls 24 and 26 and thereception pocket end walls I? and 20. Between the wall portions 19 and94 there is disposed an angled wall section 94', there being a similarwall section 96 at the opposite side of the tray.

The holder cartridge 12 comprises a box-like rectangular structurehaving a set of inner walls comprising the end Walls 64 and theconnecting side walls 66, and further having a set of outer wallscomprising end walls 72 and opposite side walls 74. The inner and outerwalls are interconnected in spaced-apart relationship by a bottom web 76extending continuously therearound to form an upwardly open channel 78in the base portion of which preferably is lodged a light-weightcellular packing 80, such as unicellular foamed plastic material, cork,or other buoyancy means to form a flotation cell, and the upper portionof which serves as a reception slot to accommodate the frame 82 of thecover 14. Stretched across the frame 82 is a cover screen 84 which isfrictionally held in a slot formed in the top of the frame by means ofwedging ring strip 86 extending continuously around the screen. Theholder catridge bottom is preferably also in the form of a screen 88likewise frictionally held in a slot in the bottom of the web 76 bymeans of a wedging ring'strip 89. Thus the holder cartridge has bothperforate top and bottom permitting free ingress and egress of waterover all areas of the cartridge so that eggs and fry held within thecartridge may be subjected to uniform passage of fresh water at alltimes.

Across the end of the holder cartridge 12 which is stationed adjacentthe receiving pocket 15, the outer end wall 72 is made higher, asindicated at 72, than the opposite end walls and the side walls.Preferably the end wall 72' is made substantially as high as the barrierside walls 24 and 26 so as to insure retention of water within theholder compartment 22, hence, in the space occupied by the holdercartridge, except for'the discharge which is permitted to occur acrossthe end weir 30. In consequence, water entering the space between thetray bottom 28 and the perforate bottom of the holder cartridge 12 wellsup in a more or less uniform pattern of flow throughout the entire areaof the cartridge and thereby circulates past all of the contentstherein.

Around the entire periphery of the tray at the top thereof is areinforcing flange 98 which also serves as a convenient supporting ledgeand a readily graspable lip for convenience in handling and carrying thetrays. The flange at opposite sides of the tray serves as a ledge bywhich a column of trays may be supported out of contact with each other,resting slidably on external supports (not shown).

In accordance with features of the present invention, a novel latchingarrangement is provided by which the holder cartridge cover 14 issecured removably to the holder cartridge 12 and likewise the holdercartridge as a whole is secured removably to the tray proper.

One or more abutments preferably in the form of inwardly projectingknobs 100 on the cartridge end wall 72' are engageable with complementalabutment means on the end of the tray cover 14, in this instance the topside of the frame, in order to hold down that end of the cover againstdirect lifting from the cartridge slot 12'. However, suchin-terengagernent permits endwise withdrawal of the cover 14, when itsopposite end is first lifted by handle 102 from out of the cartridgeslot 12', as in Figure 6. A spring latch 104 mounted at 104' on thelatter end of the cartridge and has an abutment portion 104a projectinginwardly over the top of the cartridge to hold down the adjacent end ofthe cover 14 with the latter seated in slot 12. The latch has a fingertab 104b which project upwardly and outwardly from the projecting innerend of abutment portion 104a and serves two functions. Its slope causesit to be deflected outwardly (i.e., endwise of the cartridge) by wedgingaction of the cover as the latter descends into slot 12'. It then snapsinto latched position holding the cover in place when the cover reachesits seated position. Such finger tab 10% also serves as a convenienthandle for springing the latch back or open manually in order to releasethe cover for removal. Latch 104 is mounted at a transverse location onthe end of cartridge 12 which positions such latch in one end ofclean-out well 38 wherein it will be out of the way yet convenientlyaccessible.

Substantially similar abutment knobs 106 are preferably mounted 'on thetrays end wall portions 94 and 96, projecting endwise of the tray andinto holder compartment 22. Complementally formed and located holes 108in the cartridges end wall fit the abutments 106 in order to hold thatend of the cartridge against being lifted directly from its seatedposition in the chamber 22, yet permitting its endwise withdrawaltherefrom once its opposite end has been raised, as in Figure 5. Suchopposite end is normally latched and held in its seated position,however, by the manually operable spring latch 110 which is generallysimilar in purpose and function to latch 104. Latch 110 is mounted at110' on the end wall of clean-out well 38 opposite the location of latch104. Latch 110 also has an abutment portion 110a and tab portion 11011.The abutmentllOa normally engages the cartridge top and holds it down inholder chamber 22 (Figure 4-). The tab is automatically deflected backby wedging action in order to permit seating of the cartridge intheholder. It may-be deflected back by finger pressure inorder to permitlifting the cartridge from the tray (Figure 5). This action in no waydisturbs the latched position of the cover.

It will be evident that both latches 104 and 110 and their associatedoppositely located sets of abutments are situated where they will notinterfere with nor be accidentally actuated by normal handling of theincubator as a complete assembly, or of the covered cartridge removedfrom the tray. With the cover 14 secured to the holder cartridge 12 andwith the latter removed from the tray,

V the buoyancy of the holder cartridge permits it to be floated in arearing pond or other body of water. The relative buoyancy imparted tothe tray by reason of the flotation'means therein incorporated ispreferably such that the tray floats with its major portion submerged,so that the entire contents of the holder cartridge will be immersed.

These and other aspects of the invention will be evident to thoseskilled in the art based on the foregoing disclosure of the preferredembodiment of the invention.

1 claim as my invention:

1. In a fish egg incubator comprising a tray structure having a bottomand inwardly spaced opposite side walls and end walls defining a holdingchamber, means for introducing water into said holding chamber and forcollecting and conducting water discharged therefrom, and an egg holdercartridge removably mounted in said holding chamber, confined laterallybetween said opposite side and end walls, for circulation of waterthrough said cartridge, said cartridge comprising a surrounding wallstructure, a perforate bottom portion, and a separate cover; means forlatching said cartridge in the tray comprising abutment means on one endwall of the holding chamber positioned to overlie a portion of theadjacent end of the cartridge and thereby hold such cartridge endagainst direct lifting from the holding chamber, while permittingendwise withdrawal of the cartridge therefrom with the cartridge tiltedupwardly, and a resiliently deflectable latch member mounted on the traystructure at the opposite end of the holding chamber and having anabutment portion normally overlapping a portion of the adjacent end ofthe cartridge =to'h0ld such latter end against direct lifting from theholding chamber, said latch memher being manually deflectable from thecartridge to release the same for lifting into said tilted position inorder to permit withdrawal thereof from said holding chamber.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein the latch membercomprises an outwardly inclined finger tab portion joined to theabutment portion, adapted to be engaged wedgingly by downward movementof the adjacent end of the cartridge in order to spring the latch memberaside and permit seating of the cartridge in the holding chamber,whereupon the latch member returns resiliently into its norm-alposition, said finger tab being adapted for manual engagement in orderto deflect the latch member away from the cartridge for releasing thecartridge.

3. In a fish egg incubator comprising a tray structure having a bottomand inwardly spaced opposite side walls and end walls defining a holdingchamber, means for introducing water into said holding chamber and forcollecting and conducting water discharged therefrom, and an egg holdercartridge removably mounted in said holding chamber, confined laterallybetween said opposite side and end walls, for circulation of waterthrough said cartridge, said cartridge comprising a surrounding wallstructure having a cover-receiving recess therein extending around itsperiphery at the top thereof, a perforate bottom portion, and a separatecover detachably received in said recess; means for latching saidcartridge in the tray comprising abutment means on one end wall of theholding chamber positioned to overlie a portion of the adjacent 'end ofthe cartridge and thereby hold such cartridge end against direct liftingfrom the holding chamber, while permitting endwise withdrawal of thecartridge therefrom with the cartridge tilted upwardly, and aresiliently deflectable latch member mounted on the tray structure atthe opposite end of the holding chamber and having an abutment portionnormally overlapping a por tion of the adjacent end of the cartridge tohold such latter end against direct lifting from the holding chamber,said latch member being manually defiectable from the cartridge torelease the same for lifting into said tilted position in order topermit withdrawal thereof from said holding chamber; and means forlatching said cover on said cartridge comprising abutment means on oneend of the cartridge wall structure, positioned to overlie a portion ofthe adjacent end of the cover and thereby hold such cover end againstdirect lifting thereof from said recess while permitting endwiseWithdrawal therefrom with the cover tilted upwardly, and a resilientlydeflectable latch member mounted on the cartridge wall structure at theopposite end thereof and having an abutment element normally overlappinga portion of the adjacent end of the cover in order to hold such latterend against direct lifting from the recess, said latter latch memberbeing manually deflectable from the cover to release the latter forlifting into said tilted position in order to permit removal thereoffrom the cartridge.

4. The combination defined in claim 3, wherein the latter latch memberhas a finger tab portion inclined outwardly and adapted to be wedginglyengaged and defiected away from the cover in order to permit seating ofthe latter by downward movement into the cartridge recess, whereupon thelatch member returns resiliently to its normal position, holding thecover in the cartridge recess,

said finger tab portion being manually engageable to deflect the latchmember away from the cover in order to permit removal thereof from thecartridge.

5. The combination defined in claim 4, wherein the first-mentioned latchmember comprises an outwardly inclined finger tab portion adapted to beengaged wedgingly by downward movement of the adjacent end of thecartridge in order to spring the latch member aside and permit seatingof the cartridge in the holding chamber, whereupon the latch memberreturns resiliently into its normal position, said finger tab beingadapted for manual engagement in order to deflect the latch member awayfrom the cartridge for releasing the cartridge.

6. The combination defined in claim 5, wherein the holding chamber wallat one end has an interruption therein intermediate the ends of suchwall, and wherein the latch members are located within suchinterruption.

7. The combination defined in claim 5, wherein the end of the cartridgeopposite the latch member thereon has an end Wall which projectsupwardly above the top of the cover, said raised end wall carryingabutments projecting endwise of the cartridge and over the cover.

8. The combination defined in claim 7, wherein said cartridge end wallhas apertures therein adapted to re ceive abutments on the adjacent endwall of the holding chamber, and abutments on such latter end walladapted to engage said apertures by endwise relative approach movementof the adjacent end of the cartridge in the holding chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

